Cosmic Trends: Astrology Connects the Dots by Philip Brown. Llewellyn Publications, November 2006. $14.95. In COSMIC TRENDS, Philip Brown takes us on a future and historical journey detailing the connections between the planets and cultural trends in our society. He especially focuses on the slower moving outer planets and the influence their movement has on the generations.
Brown describes the planets' movements from the seven-year cycle of Uranus to the 12-to-30-year movement of Pluto through the signs. The movement they make, says Brown, influences every aspect of life on this planet—from religion, to popular culture, to art, to technology, and everything in between.
The book is divided into four parts. Part I gets us to connect with Pluto, and the principle of transformation. Brown follows six generations of Pluto, through the signs of Cancer (1912-1939), Leo (1937-1958), Virgo (1956-1972), Libra (1971-1984), Scorpio (1983-1995), Sagittarius (1995-2008), and Capricorn (2008-2024).
In Part II, Brown concentrates on the last transit, Capricorn (2008-2024), and the shape of the future while the Big Guy, Pluto, is in Capricorn. This chapter leaves one with feelings of both dread and hope at the same time.
Part III focuses on the freedom of Uranus and the dreams of Neptune—and the Utopia created by this blending of cosmic energies.
Part IV puts together the big picture of planetary cycles and major trends, past and present. Here Brown includes the “Management Team” of Jupiter and Saturn and the their 20-year cycles in the different elements, including the next “Grand Mutation” when the 20-year conjunction changes from the Earth to the Air element.
One of the most interesting features of the book is the interactive exercises which Mr. Brown provides for the reader at the end of each chapter. These exercises are especially useful in helping the less knowledgeable reader more thoroughly digest and understand the astrology that underpins Brown's work.
This book is a fairly easy read and offers good information for the beginning and intermediate student of astrology as well as the more informed astrologer who wants a refresher course.
